Razor-blade dispenser



Dec- 13, 1960 M. M. RocKMoRE RAZOR-BLADE DISPENSER Filed July 2o, 1959IPT l IN VEN TOR.' Naro/v /7 fxzfroc BY i ATTD RAZOR-BLADE DISPENSERMilton M. Rockmore, 102 Brookby Road, Scarsdale, N .Y.

Filed July 20, 1959, Ser. No. 828,238

1 Claim. (Cl. 206-16) This invention relates generally to receptacles,and has particular reference to an improved razor blade package.

It is a general object of the invention to provide a razor blade packagewhich will incorporate within itself a means for automatically remindingthe user that the supply of blades is about to become exhausted.

A more specific object is to achieve this result without requiring anystructural changes in the receptacle commonly employed, or any essentialdeviations from the ordinary packaging procedure.

The invention is applicable to any razor blade package of the type inwhich a stack of razor blades is supported in a receptacle having a slottherein, the blades being successively expelled through the slot byendwise pressure exerted upon the uppermost blade. In some pack agesthis pressure is applied by direct finger contact through an appropriateaperture in the top wall of the receptacle; in other packages thereceptacle is provided with a discharge element exteriorly controllableby the user. Either of these receptacles, or any other slottedreceptacle of the same general type, may be employed in the manufactureof the improved razor blade package provided by this invention.

One way of accomplishing the objectives and advantages of the inventionis illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a known type of razor blade package,showing one of the blades partly discharged from it;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing the manner in which thepresent novel reminder element is discharged;

Figure 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view substantially along theline 3-3 of Figure 1;'

Figure 4 is a further enlarged fragmentary view representing a portionof the stack of blades shown at the left in Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is a plan view of the reminder element.

The receptacle herein chosen for illustration has a substantially at topwall with a central recess 11 therein, large enough to receive the thumbor other finger of the user. In the end wall of the receptacle there isa discharge slot 12. Within the receptacle is a stack of razor blades13. I have chosen to illustrate the conventional double-edged blades,each having a highly sharpened pair of opposite shaving edges 14.

'Ihe manner of supporting the stack 13 within the receptacle 10 isimmaterial so far as the present improvement is concerned. The detailsof such supporting means have therefore been omitted. Suflice it topoint out that the blades are supported in known fashion for sequentialdischarge through the slot 12 by endwise pressure exerted upon theuppermost blade of the stack. In the illustrated device, the directpressure of the thumb or other finger of the user, applied to theuppermost blade through the aperture 11, is sufficient to direct theblade endwise nited States Patent out of the slot 12 as indicated inFigure 1. As is well known, the sharp cutting edges of the blade areinaccessible to the user during this blade-discharging procedure, but ofcourse after the blade has been withdrawn special care must be taken toavoid injury by inadvertent contact with the sharpened edges 14.

In accordance with my invention, a special reminder element 15 isincluded in the stack of blades 13, interposed between a pair ofadjacent blades in the stack, and preferably located adjacent to andahead of the blade which is the last to be discharged from the package.

The element 15 has substantially the same dimensions as the blade of thetype with which it is associated, and may in fact have a peripheralcontour, and apertures. in the medial region, resembling those of agenuine blade. The element 15 has dull harmless edges 16, and on one orboth faces it bears a reminder message of the character indicated at 17.It is dischargeable from the package in the same way as the blades, andis shown in partially discharged location in Figure 2.

The element 15 may be composed of any suitable material. For example,cardboard, plastic, or even steel, may be suitable or desirable for thepurpose.

The advantages attained by the improved razor blade package will beobvious from the foregoing description. The reminder element is harmlessand unsharpened, and therefore it may be safely handled and carriedabout. The user is thus enabled to place the reminder in his pocket, sothat the circumstance that he is in need of a new razor blade packagewill be brought to his attention at a time when such purchase can beattended to.

The message 17 may of course assume any desired form. The simulation ofthe blade shape in a dull harmless dummy is in itself anattention-arresting feature which contributes to the attainment of thedesired objective. The advertising value of the reminder element willalso be apparent.

The placing of the reminder element in the stack of blades is a matterof choice. It should, of course, be placed ahead of the last blade to bedischarged, otherwise its reminding effect will come too late. Aposition directly ahead of the last blade of the stack is probably themost elective.

It will be apparent that the invention can be applied to packages ofvarious kinds, and that the basic nature of the receptacle in each case,and of the packaging procedure, is unaltered by the incorporation withinthe stack of the reminder element herein described. Thus the inventionattains its objective in a thoroughly practical and commercially usefulmanner.

What is claimed is:

A razor blade package comprising a receptacle pro vided with a slot in awall thereof, a stack of razor blades in the receptacle supportedtherein for sequential discharge through said slot in an endwisedirection, and a reminder element interposed between two adiacent bladesof the stack, said element having substantially the same dimensions as ablade and being dischargeable from the receptacle in the same way, saidelement bearing reminder indicia and having dull harmless edges allowingit to be safely handled and carried about. said reminder element beinglocated near and ahead of the blade which is last to be discharged.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,507,106 Cohn Sept. 2, 1924 2,707,551 Shnitzler et al. ...w-.--..-.wMay 3, 1.95.5V

